Welcome to my home:
a place to rest,
a place to revive,
a place to pray.

Christmas is upon us, and we're all getting ready for...what? Is there a purpose behind this preparation? Across America, and the world, has Christmas become just another reason to throw a seasonal party?

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I asked this very question to myself as I hung my wreath on my own front door. Why the wreath? Does this circular object have meaning, or is it just "pretty" and "fitting" at Christmas? And along with that, why the greenery and red ribbons that wrap around so many door frames, staircases, and mantles? I love the festive look, but is that it? When I asked these heart-questions, the Lord gently reminded me of a passage of Scripture:

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Each household is to take a lamb...your lamb shall be an unblemished male a year old...the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel is to kill it at twilight. Moreover, they shall take some of the blood and put it on the doorposts..." Exodus 12:3,5-7

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When my mind settled on these verses, the crimson red ribbons that accompany the evergreen boughs at Christmas became much more than mere traditional decor found on the shelf at Michael's. I suddenly felt a beautiful connection to the Israelites of old. Their Savior is my Savior. I have a Protector over my household as well. He has come, and He lives within. The greenery with red ribbon reminds me to bow my heart in humbled worship.

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Here's another thought: Could the circular wreath we hang on our doors represent God's matchless love that is complete because of the birth, death, and resurrection of His Son? In your mind's eye, trace your finger around a wreath from top, to bottom, to top while reading these all too familiar words:

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For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

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He came from heaven to earth to be with us, in order to bring us to heaven to be with him. The wreath proclaims eternal life all because of Immanuel!

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So as the world celebrates, does the world know why? When you look at your wreath and the greenery at your door or on your mantle, celebrate your Savior. May the red ribbon remind you of His crimson blood shed for you and your household! Rejoice! His entry into the world has purchased your entry into heaven. This is what the world needs to know. Yes, may our homes and our hearts and our voices sing together, "Joy to the world, the Lord has come!"

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Instead of going to Clarksville to care for my little grandchildren today, I'm unexpectedly sitting here in the hospital with my mom as she is having a gamut of tests run due to very low hemoglobin.

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Some of you may understand this statement completely: I'm living in the middle.

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On one hand, l'm holding the energetic young, and on the other hand, I'm holding the weary old.

A strong tie of love exists as l'm being stretched.

Both ends have its challenges, and some are strangely similar.

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In this middle-place, what can I give to both other than my obvious physical care?

I know this sounds cliche, but I'm going to say it with sincerity...

I can give both generations Jesus.

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I can sing "Jesus Loves Me" to my grandchildren and I can listen to my Bible app with my mama.

I can introduce "new" Bible stories to the "littles" and I can remind my mom of God's ancient promises.

I can pray blessings into the future and I can say thank you's for the past.

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I'm reminded that It's not just my love that's holding these generations together, it's God's love.

And his love is beautiful, through and through and through.

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Are you in the middle?

Embrace the Sandwich Years.

It's an honor to hold their tender, time-stamped hands.

Give both the young and the old your best love.

Give them Jesus.

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No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:12

Who needs grace, raise your hand.

My hand is up high. I need grace upon grace!

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In my newly released children's book Christmas Morning, a little girl unwraps her final gift. She opens a box to find...a crimson red rode. It's velvety soft, and on the pocket, her name is monogrammed in white. After all the other gifts she has opened (see previous posts) she is humbled that this exquisite robe was hand-stitched, made uniquely for her.  When the little girl puts the robe on, she feels like she is wearing love itself.

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Symbolically, the name of this gift is the robe of amazing grace and it is meant for each one of us who knows Jesus as Savior.

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Can you believe the King of kings took off his royal robe and gave it to you and me? But even before he did this act, he, in his lovingkindness, first took off our own filthy garments. All our sin was removed and placed on him at the cross. He dealt with it there completely. It is finished.

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Then he robed us in his righteousness. Now that's amazing grace!

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Here are a few verses that speak into this truth:

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I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness... Isaiah 61:10

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Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.” Zechariah 3:3-4

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‍For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9.

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‍And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But the father said to his servants,‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. Luke 15:21-24

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All too often, we choose to keep our dirty clothes on. We're too comfortable; we're too guilty; we're too passive; we're too self-righteous; we're too afraid to take the risk. If we really knew what it meant to wear his robe we would not hesitate to have Jesus himself wrap us in it. He's holding it up for us to put one arm in, then the other. Will we?

In the story, I chose crimson red for the robe because it represents royalty. When we accept Christ, we belong to a kingdom that will out last and out shine anything this world has to offer.

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Become the little girl in Christmas Morning. Marvel at his amazing grace and humbly wear his robe. It's yours--your name is monogrammed on the pocket.

You are his.

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